St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-11-19

s'Well, James. like your looks. Nnd
do not doubt your ability. but mo-
ticed the stump Of . cigar in your fin
gers as you came in. and your clothes
are filed with the odOr Of tobacco.
How long tavc you smoked?
Two years or more" he answered.
looking rescntfully at the gentleman.
though he had the grace to blush
My hoy. do you know you are SOW
ing the seeds Of misery?"
''It rests me to smoke"
"Rcsts you! All. poor child. might
preach you long sermon. tell Of the
blighted lives. ruined nerves. and
empty pockets. but 1 forbear. My lad.
learn . lesson. throw it away before it
is too late. I'll excuse you now"
The boy went out in q staggering.
Indifferent way. muttering something
about ''taking away mans liberty"
Pityingly. Mr.. Lorl saw him depart.
The next boy was clean and pure to
look at. and handed his recommcnda-
ton to Mr.. LSrl in very sclf-satisficd
way. Tho gentleman. with the scene
Of the morning fresh in his mind. even
when he read the complimentary
words, written by his own minister.
could not say Yes to such an appli-
cant. He had no doubt of his fine
scholarship. and his general appear
ancc was greatly in his favor. but. he
said: '.Elcrbert. / came down on car
No. this morning and witnessed .
little scene that you will recall. ! ad-
vert;sed for = gentlcmanly lad. Ill
excuse you. now.
With hot checks, he departed.
The next was boy with q fine face.
but not rs well grown rs the Others.
and with no recommendation except
note from his mother. Mr.. Lord read:
'.Dcar Sir: We are strangers in the
city. know Of no one who. with this
short notice. can recommend my boy.
A mother may be partial in her judg-
mcnt, but he is gool hoy, and you. II
you will take the troub.c. can learn Of
his scholarship Will you please give
him chance to learn trade that has
great attractions for him? We have .
cass IN the houss, and he can already
ses.sne quite rapidly. His fsthev was
. pnaser. c.cu>c this long n0es and
oblixe. Hoars tras. y 4 Gr.ham."
"well. mother ou2h. H. l.ow.'' he
said - hiuaseit ard - No. took IN
the air Of respectabiiisy y --s,.e,l
the dress of the hoy. he realizes A..
unless supplante,l by new. il would
soon become very shabby; and he re-
called the time when his own mother
came to the city with her small children
and the disappointments that he. her
oldest child. had met with. before he
gained a footholl in the seething tide
Of humanity That surrounded the un-
sophisticated youth
IF you can give us little time. sir.
mother will write to our old home. and
get the names Of parties who will give
me recommendation"
MY boy. advertised for n gentle
manly lad. and Of that have had in
disputable evidence already. and the
examination will now give you will
settle the question Of scholarship.
Every thing else III take on trust, feel
ing confident that I shall not be de-
ccived."
That evening Mrs Atkinson. when
affairs with an acquaint-
ance. said:
Il can not understand the luck Of
some folks. Herbert went to the edi-
tor of the Bee this morning, and WIS
only the second boy there" "Yes. my
boy got there first" interrupted the
other, ''and he had letter from one ~
Mr.. Lords own friends" ..And my
boy" broke in the first speaker. ''had
. Recommendation from our minister.
and even then Mr.. Lord took shabby
little fellow. Herbert says. who doesn't
know any body in town. Such luck!'
Was it luck. boyse-Ned G.ns in S.
s. Times.